wheary



BAGGAGE CARRIER briginal Filed Dec. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-sheet .i

( EUPQEI-Ienry Whgary July 1, 1930. G. H, wHx-:ARY Re. .17,720

' BAGGAGE CARRIER Original Filed Dec. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n l ,I QMdaD/p E Burg@ wwwmain/ Reissued July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE GEORGE HENRY WHEARY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 WHEAR'Y TRUNK COMPANY, 0F RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WISCONSIN BAGGAGE CARRIER Original No. 1,652,652, dated December 13, 1927, Serial No. 756,466, led December 17, 1924. Application for reissue-filed April 18,

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in baggage carriers and refers more particularly to baggage carriers of that type, comprising hingedly connected sections, one section of which has its bottom on a higher plane than that of the other.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improvedand nove-l support for the baggage carrier section having its bottom on a higher plane.

A further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved type of support of the character described which may be used in connection with devices other than baggage carriers.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may bel made as come within the scope of the claims.

In vthe accompanying drawings, I have i]- lustrated two complete examples of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe lower portion of a baggage carrier of the wardrobe trunk type equipped with my improved supporting means, the sections of the baggage carrier being in open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view takenl through the lower portion of the 'section mounting the supporting means on `the `plane of line 2-2 Lof Figure 1, the supporting means being in collapsed posit-ion; Y

Figure 3' is a fragmentary yview rtaken through the front panel of the extension Vmember adjacent the outer panel of the movable section with the movable sectionin partly opened position;

Figure 5 is a View taken on the plane of the 1928. Serial No. 270,971.

line 5-5 of Figure 1 and illustrating a slightly modilied construction of supporting leg,

and

Figure 6 is a view 0f that form of supporting means illustrated in Figure 5 illustrating the supporting leg in the act of folding or collapsing as the movable section is closed.

Referring nowv more particularly to the accompanying drawings-in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views; 10 designates the wardrobe section and 11 the drawer section of a baggage carrier of the wardrobe trunk type. The wardrobe section includes side panels 12 and a front panel 13 and the drawer section includes side panels 14 and a. front panel 15, the sections being hingedly connected by a suitable hinge fitting 16 connecting the marginal edges of two adjacent side panels of the sections'. The upper portions of the sections have not been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and the sections are releasably locked in closed position by any desired type of mechanism, not shown. Y

In further reference to a carrier as abovementioned, the bottom of one of the sections is disposed on a higher plane than the bottom of the other. and is adapted to close over an extension member 17 projected ,from the bottom of said other section. In this embodiment, .the drawer sectionl 1s the one having its bottom on a higher plane, although it will be readily understood that the extension mem-` ber 17 may be formed on either section and, if desired, may be provided with an interior space or compartment 18. XV hen the space or compartment r18 is provided, a closure 19 is preferably hingedly co-nnected, as at 20,

with either a partition' wall 21 separating thel compartment .18 from the interior of the wardrobe section, when the extension member is carried thereby, or with the panels of the section, the free end thereof being supportedv sition.. l

when the drawer section is closed thereover to resist spreading between the parts and impart a uniform exterior appearance when the sections are closed.` The means connect` ing the meeting edges of the panels of the yertension member and the section movable thereover are provided with elongated interlocking members 23 and interlocking dowel members 24 mounted at the corners.

A bottom wall 25 closes the bottom of the drawer section and the usual drawers 26 are slidably mounted therein.

,Vhile the hinge fitting 16 may be made to supportthe entire weight ofthe drawer section when in open position, it is desirable to provide means supporting the outer free end thereof to relieve the hinge fitting of aportion of the weight and consequently prevent the placing of undue strains on the sidepanels of the sections such as would occur when rthe drawer section is heavily packed. To this end I provide the supporting leg structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings which is designed `to..automatically collapse and be concealed when the movable section is closed and to automatically extend to operativeposition as the movable section opens. Two modified forms of'supporting legs are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and attentionis now` directed to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, depicting the preferred embodi-v ment.

The supporting leg proper, `designated by the reference character y27, is securedto` a e5 plate 28, by apivot pin29,.which is vfixed to4 the outer panel 14 ofthe movable sectionad-v` jacent the inner lowermarginaly edgethereof by rivets or' other fastening means 29. The bottom wall 25 of the movable sectionisvslot-v 40ted or cut-away, as at 30,to accommodate the y plate `28 and permit movement of the leg thereinto. when. the, sections are closed, as"

illustratedy in Figure 2.

; `The outer free rend of the leg 27, carries av stub shaft 31 on which a floor engaging. roller` 32`provid'ed with a suitable rubber tread 33 isvjournaled by a roller or' ballbearing 34.'.

Tlieinner endof the legis extended beyond thepivot 29 and provided kWithga lockinglug or latch element 35 which is engageable in a free end portion'of a keeper or locking lever 37y when the leg is ina vertical" or activepo-` The 'lever 37 hasy itsinnerend` pi-votally n fixed to thefplate 28,:adjacent the inner uppery corner thereof by'a pivot 38,2thefmovement of its free end ybeing .defined by tliel'imits of;

an arcuateslot 39 'struck from an arc employ:r Iing the pivot v33 as a. center and in whichy worksa stud orfstop 40 fixed tothe .outer upper corner portion of the fplate.` The leven 37 is normally in' an approximately1horizon-` f tal position by gravity and wheny in .such posi- 65 tion lawlatclrtrip 4l secured thereto medially;r

locking or latchrecess 36 formed inthe outery of the locking recess 36 and the pivot 38 by rivets or other means 42'has its lower inclined or,cam shaped end 43 extended below the plane ofthe edge of the front panel 44 of the extension member. The trip 4l rides over the extension member front panel" `in the i opening and closing movements of the movable section, raising the outer free end of the locking lever 37 within the limits of the slot 39 tol free the locking recess 36 ofthe locking 7 lug 35.

As best illustrated in Figure 2, the leg 27 is folded orA collapsed withinthe recess 30 with the roller 32 engaging the closure 19, when the sections are closed and the locking lever 37 is in its horizontal position. r As the movable sectiony is yswungr to open position, the roller 32 traclis over the closure 19 and rides over the upper edge of the extenl sion member front panel, the outer end of the leg dropping of its ownweight substantially simultaneously with the lifting of the free end of the lever 37 by the trip latch 41 riding over the front panel 44. The locking levery being out of the pathr of the leg locking lug 35, frees the legof any frictionalr restriction to its movement to its vertical operative position denedby a stop 45 carried by the plate 28, and the lever drops to its locking position as the trip passes off the front panel 44, engaging the locking lug in the recess 36, pro-v viding the leg has `moved to itsv dotted position in Figure 3. The leg is thus rigidly secured in its operative position by the locking lever to provide a sturdy support for the outer free end of the movable section while in open position, the Ilower-,most portion of the roller 32 being atvall times on anfeven plane with the bottom of the `normally staf tionary section.

.Ulti

- in Figure3, with its locking lug 35 in line to be engagedfin the lockingrecess 36, a trunk controlledv leg actuatingmember 46 is provided having' a.horizontalarm-portion 47, the outer end 48 'of which isoffsetland directed upwardly and pivotally secured tothe leg a'short'distanc'e from the pivot '29 by'a pivot 49. "The other end portion 50 of the member 46 is of the irregular shape illustratedin Figures 2 to land is secured torthe plate "28 by astu'd 5l carried thereby andpassed through acam opening. orslo't52in the end 5() of the `member. The arm portion 47 of `19o said member isfdeined and separated from ythe end portion() and the lower surface ofthe'arm:portionexytends beyond the; plane of thelovver,.surfacel by a -`recess or `notch-53' of tl1e:end"50,'the wallsor shoulderE del-ln-A` y ing the end of the recess or notch153,,adjacent the endy 50 being inclinedtoform a camgsurface, for the I reasons vto be later' 1described,,'r and the Wall55 defining the other end thereof being abrupt for the purpose lateidescribed. 111? The cam slot 52 is inclined inwardly and upwardly from the outer end of the portion so that with the leg 27 in vertical position the stud 51 is at the inner upper end thereof.

` As the movable section is opened to the pointy where the end of the arm 47 passes beyond the front panel 44 of the extension member the leg drops as hereinabove described, the lower surface of the arm 47 being held on a plane above that of the edge of panel 44 by the pivot 49 and the stud 51 in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. The lower edgeof the end portion 50 of the actuating member 46 while on a higher plane than the lower edge ofthe arm 47 extends below the plane of the upper edge of the extension member front panel when the leg is in any position approaching vertical and as a result the cam or inclined wall 54 of the recess strikes the upper edge of the front panel 44 moving the v into a vertical. slot 56 communicating with the extreme inner upper end of the cam slot- 52, the actuating member dropping as it frees the extension member to its dotted position illustrated in Figure 3. This construction provides mechanical means for positively assuring the locking of the leg in operative position on each opening of the sections.

The leg being thus secured in operative position, the movable section may be freely swung 'full open, the outer free end thereof being supported by the leg 27 relieving the hinge fitting 16 and the section side panels of undue strain, the supporting leg previding a support for the outer free end o-f the movable section at any point from full open to a partially closed position.

As the movable section is closed, the ei;-

treme outer curved edge 57 of the end 50 of the trunk controlled actuating member rides over the upper edge of the extension member front panel, the stud 51 passing into the vertical portion 56 of the cam recess, and then drops back to its dotted position illustrated in Figure 3. Continued closing movement vcf i the section engages the end 43 of the trip 4l with the upper portion of the extension member front panel raising the free end of the latch lever 37 and disengaging the locking recess 86 and the locking lug 85 with the latch i member still in raised'position, the inner end 55 of arm 47 strikesI the front panel 44, as illustrated in Figure 4, moving the trunk actuating member to the left with reference to Figure 4 swinging 'leg' 27 on its pivot in a clockwise direction to its folded or collapsed position. Folding of the supporting leg bodily raises the member 46 by reason of the shifting of its pivot 49 and the movement of the stud 51 into the lower end of the slot 52 until it frees the 'top of the panel 44, see Figure 2, the latch lever dropping to its normal position asthe trip frees the front panel.

In Figures 5 and`6, a slightly modilied form of collapsible or foldable supporting means is illustrated in which the trunk controlled actuating member is eliminated and in its place the leg is provided with an arcuate arm or leverA 58 which lies within the path of the extension member front panel when' the leg is collapser. Opening movement of the vmovable section engages the outer end of the arcuate arm with the inner face of the front panel, swinging the leg on its pivot toward vertical position. The latch member 41 is also replaced by a trip element 59 approximately V shape with one arm 60 thereof of arcuate shape to conform with that of the lever or arm 58 of the supporting leg to which it is pivotally secured, as at 61. rllhe other arm 60 of the trip is secured to the leg proper tc permit its movement on the pivot 61 within the limits defined by the ends of an arcuate slot 62 in the-outer end portion of the arm 60 and struck on an arc with the pivot 61 as a center, a leg carried stud or pin 68 being passed through said slot. The outer end portion of the trip arm 60 has a cam 64 formed thereon adapted to be in the path of the upper edge of the front panel 44 when the supporting leg is in operative position to move the trip on its pivot 61 and raise lever 37 to free the locking lug of the lockingrecess 36. As will be evident lever 87 is of a p thickness to extend beyond the face of theV supporting leg to permit its Vengagement by the trip 59. i

If desired a contractile spring may be employed to yieldably hold lever 37 in locking positiomthe spring having one end connec-ted with'the lever 37, as at 66, and its other end connected with theplate 28,I as at 67. In place of the roller 32, the lower end 68 of the leg may beV directed laterally and provided with. a suitable ball or other floor en-. gaging means 69.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it willb'e-readily obvious to those skilled in the art to which an invention of this character appertains that I provide an improved supporting means especially adaptedV for baggage carriers, although it may be 'used in con nection with any other `device wherein a collapsible or disappearing supporting structure is desiredf What I claim as my invention is:

1. A collapsible support for a trunk of the class described, comprising a carrying member, a supporting leg collapsibly 4mounted on`v the carrying member, a locking.v lever, cooperating lmeans carried bythe supporting leg and lever to lock ythe -legin operative posi tion, and trunkoperated means operable to break the locking connection` between the lever and-leg to permit collapsing of the leg.

2. In a trunky of the `character described having a compartment member and a section movable thereover to closed position, a supporting structure for the sectionwhen in open position andl comprising a loorengaging member, means connecting the Hoor engaging member with the movable section for movement to andfrom an active position, means operable to lock the floor engaging member in active position when the' movable section is moved to open position, and means operable by the closing movement of the section to release the member locking means.

3. In a trunk of the character described having a compartment memberand a section o movable thereover to'v closed position, a supporting structure-for the section when in open position and comprising a floor engaging member, means connecting the floor engaging member with the movable section for movement to and from an active position, means operable to lock the Hoor engaging member in active position when the movable section is movedtol open position, land means operable by the closing movement to said section tov releasethe member locking means and swing the floor engaging member to collapsed position. e fl. A collapsible support ofthe character described, comprising a carrying member, a supporting leg collapsibly mounted ron the carrying member, a `locking le'ver, cooperat- `ing-means carriedby the supporting leg and `lever toloch the legl inoperative position,

- on the section,I a lever pivotally carried by the section, a; releasable interlocking connection on the-sectionA wherebythefsamemay move to f opera-tivel position.; of its own weight,.aiidv means for automatically moving ithe legrtofull operative position-'in the event the saine fails*y to.` move to such position ofsitsfown` means for automatically moving the leg to locked position, and means limitingthe movement ofthe leg to operative.position.fr f

5. In a trunkof thechaiacter described including a movable section, asupporting leg, means pivotally mounting theesupporting leg betweenfthe' lever"y and the inner end of the supporting leg whenthe;supportingleg is in operative position, and' means operable upon f movement of the section` toy breakthe interlockingy connection between the lever and leg.,`

. 6. In trunk` of thecharacter described,` having a movable section, a supporting leg,

means pivotally mountiiigthe supportingzleg weight. u@ K 7. In a trunk ofthecharaCteidescribed, the

i combinationwith a stationarymember and a second' member movable thereovencfa sup-f ,l porting structure for the secondmember comprising a floor engaging member, means mounting the floor engaging member for movement to and from concealed and active positions, an element connected-with the Hoor engaging member and adapted to lie in the path of a part carried by the stationary member whereby movement oi"A the second member to open position causes said element to swing the leg to active position, and means for releasably locking the leg in active position.

8. .In a device of the character described,

the combination. with ra stationary member and asecond member movable thereover, of a supporting.structure for thesecond member comprising a iioor engaging member, means mounting the floor engaging member for movement to and from concealed `and active positions, anelementconnected with the Hoor engaging' member andadapted to lie in the stationary .member f 9.` A wardrobe trunk having a section movable about an upright airis and having the bottom of said section above the bottom of the trunk, and a support carried by the section` fork cooperating with the supportingsurface on which the trunlr rests to one side oit' the.r

trunl when said section is in open position, and automatically acting means for effecting a movement ci the support toward supporting position upon the movement of the swinging section toward open position.

10.` A wardrobe trunk having a section movable about an upright axis with a bottom spaced from the bottom ofthe trunk, a sup! port ior supporting the section in open posi-v tion, and automatically acting means for ef- :footing the movement "of thesupp'ort tofold- 'l ,ed position upon the movement of the swingy ing section towards closed position.

ILA lwardrobe trunk Vhaving aj section` mounted to swing about an upright anis vand having its bottom spaced from the bottom of the trunk, a support i'ior supporting the section in open position, and automatically act- .ing means for effecting the movementof the support to supporting position as the section'- is being opened, and away from supporting yposition as the section is` being closed.

.12.4 A baggage carrier, comprising two hingedly connected sections-of different heights,'theshorter section having its bottoni f disposed on ya higher plane than the bottomk of the higher section, acompartment of a depth i substantiallyaequal `to Athe distancer the i bottom of the shorter section is spaced from the bottom ofthe highersection and extended fromV thebottom of the higher section and i' liu y lee over which the shorter section is movable to closed position, access being had to the interior of the compartment through the top thereof when the sections are open, a closure 5 for the top of the compartment, a supporting leg pivotally carried by the shorter section adjacent its outer free end, said leg dragging over the upper edge of the compartment when the sections are closed and being moved thereby into a concealed position between the compartment closure and said shorter section, said leg dropping to an operable position as the shorter section is swung open to free the same of the compartment, and means preventing movement of the leg member beyond its operative position by the continued opening movement ofthe shorter section after the leg member has dropped, but permitting collapsing thereof as the shorter section is moved to closed position.

13. A trunk, comprising a pair of hingedly connected sections, a member projected laterally from the bottom of one section and over which the other section is movable to closed position, access being had to the interior of said member from the top when the sections are opened, a closure for the open top of said member, movableA means carried by the movable section for supporting the same when in an opened position, and said means adapted to rest upon said closure when the sections are closed.

14. A baggage carrier, comprising two hingedly connected sections of different heights, the shorter section having its bottom disposed on a higher plane than the bottom of the higher section, a compartment of a depth substantially equal to the distance the bottom of the shorter section is spaced from the bottom of the higher section and over which the shorter section is movable to closed position, access being had to the interior of the compartment through the top thereof when the trunk sections are open, a closure for the top of the compartment, and a supporting leg pivotally carried by the shorter section adjacent its outer free end, said leg dragging over the upper edge of the compartment when the sections are closed and being moved thereby into a concealed position between the compartment closure and said shorter section.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

y GEORGE HENRY WHEARY. 

